Four years ago today, Russia’s president Vladimir Putin launched a “special military operation” involving dozens of missile strikes on Ukrainian cities before dawn. Putin planned for his troops to seize Ukraine’s electric, heating, and financial systems so the people would have to do as he wished. The day after Russia invaded, Zelensky and his cabinet recorded a video in Kyiv. Vance ambushed Ukraine president Zelensky in an Oval Office meeting that seemed designed to give the White House an excuse for siding with Russia. Since then, the administration’s ongoing “negotiations” with Russia resulted in demands of major concessions from Ukraine but none from Russia.

Source: CNN February 25, 2026 05:43 UTC